JB takes ‘food’ handouts to Ndirande

An 80-year-old Namatchonesa Kachere will live to remember December 1, 2012 for the remainder of her life. To some, it was just a normal day but to this old granny, it was a day that she received food that will help her gain strength to work in the fields as this is also the start of the rainy season.

Namatchonetsa Kachere is one of the hundreds of vulnerable grannies that received food donation from President Joyce Banda on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at a ceremony held at Nyambadwe School Ground in Malabada Constituency, Blantyre. President Banda launched the distribution of relief food items as a way of easing the problems that the hungry are facing.

Having no family, Namatchonetsa Kachere has to do everything on her own, the frail granny explains her life story.

“I was born many years ago, I don’t remember the year but I know I am around 80 to 85 years old. I lost my husband and all my six children, I have 17 grandchildren but they have all deserted me. I am surrounded by loneliness and I suffer,” explains the granny.

Thank you Madam President: Recipient tells President Banda

She says having no family means she has to fend for herself, saying she sometimes go for days without proper meal.

“I don’t even know how to thank the president, as you can see am frail and have not eaten anything since yesterday, this pack of maize flour will help me as I know I now have my next meal, atleast with this am assured I will have porridge,” she explains

Kachere is among thousands of other people across the country who are the beneficiaries of the food aid that President Banda is providing the needy and vulnerable. The President was in Ndirande on Sunday to distribute 2,000 of maize flour to people of Ndirande. She told them she will not rest until she is satisfied that people in the country have enough food.

“The hunger situation on the ground is sad; over 2 million people do to have food and as Head of State, I will not to sit back and let people die of hunger when I know I can do something about it,” said the Malawi leader.

President Banda said many people in the country, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas, are affected of hunger. She reiterated that she would continue donating food items to the affected until they have sufficient food and that would not be discouraged by self-acclaimed civil society’s leaders.

Speaking earlier at the function, Traditional Authority Kapeni hailed the President for her kind gesture. He said it is commendable that the President has the people’s welfare at heart and that she is dearly concerned by the plight of the hungry.

“Your Excellency, people in the our areas are suffering; for you to think of helping these people is very commendable. We greatly appreciate your kind heartedness,” he said.

Kapeni also hailed president Banda for finalizing projects that people in his area asked for when she became President.